A Research about the Placement of the Top Thousand Students Placed in STEM Fields in Turkey between the years 2000 and 2014

Abstract

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), one of the mostly emphasized concepts in the world, is a paradigm that creates interdisciplinary learning and provides achievement of the outcomes of science, mathematics, engineering and technology while doing this. This research was carried out to investigate the STEM fields' placement of the top thousand students placed in science and mathematics fields in universities, the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) university placement data as a basis. This is a quantitative research and descriptive analysis techniques have been used. In the study, which has examined university placement of 17135 students, it was determined that as the students' interest in STEM fields decreased between the years 2000-2014, the interest in faculties of medicine increased, that there is a major difference between male and female students in favor of the males, that the students were placed mostly in engineering departments among STEM fields and that placement in education faculties and fundamental sciences was rather low.

The Effect of Student Collaboration in Solving Physics Problems Using an Online Interactive Response System

“…Some demographic variables of the students are given in Table 1. Since this is an engineering faculty relatively less female (Akgunduz, 2016) students (15.4% and 14.9% in Class-A and B respectively) were enrolled. There were two groups of students in both classes in terms of taking the course first time and repeating the course.…”

Pre-Service Science Teachers Views on STEM Materials and STEM Competition in Instructional Technologies and Material Development Course

“…Since developed countries, for instance USA, are giving a special importance to STEM education (Rincon & George-Jackson, 2014), Turkey has to imitate these countries for its future. Students' STEM related carrier choices are decreasing in Turkey (Akgunduz, 2016). Use of these activities in their teaching by teachers can affect students' decisions (Anderson-Rowland, Banks, Zerby& Chain, 2005).…”

“…Literature review indicates that an integrative STEM education is seen as a remedy (1) to remain viable and competitive in the global economy (Akgunduz, 2016), (2) to increase achievement in STEM subjects (Han, Capraro, & Capraro, 2014;Jensen & Sjaastad, 2013), (3) to raise student interest and learning in STEM subjects (Nugent, Barker, Grandgenett, & Adamchuk, 2010), (4) to increase graduation rates and reduce dropout rates (Havice, 2013) and (5) to maintain scientific innovation (Rincon & George-Jackson, 2014). That is why; a grooving body of research in this arena has been conducted over the last two decades.…”

“…Besides, more male than female students were placed in engineering departments of universities among STEM fields (Akgunduz, 2016). One reason why students do not choose STEM fields is the insufficient regulation of the guidance offices in schools which can provide students a wide range of career information about all the available careers so that they can be able to explore widely before making their choices (Cavas, Cakiroglu, Cavas, & Ertepinar, 2011).…”

“…For instance, when compared to USA, researches related to STEM education in Turkey are rather limited (Akgunduz, 2016).…”